364 GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



The 5. quinnat spawns, according to the observations of Mr 

 Livingston Stone, Deputy U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries at the 

 sources of the Sacramento, in July ; in the little Sacramento and Mc- 

 Cloud Rivers in August ; at the mouth of the McCloud in Septem- 

 ber ; and in the smaller tributaries of the main river, at and below 

 Tehama, in October and November. The flesh of the S. quinnat, in 

 its best estate, is juicy, rich, and delicious. The heaviest fish weigh 

 sixty pounds, while the average weight, according to some authori- 

 ties, is twenty-five pounds. In shape, this salmon is more stocky than 

 the Penobscot salmon. Much has been said regarding the compar- 

 ative merits of the 5. salar, and 5. quinnat, gastronomically. Both 

 salmon are full-flavored, and possess every requisite for a high eco- 

 nomical value ; and the fact of the superiority of one over the other 

 will soon be settled, as they are being cultivated together in both 

 extremes of our country, and their gastronomic Ijualities will soon 

 be settled by gustatory trials, and judgment rendered accordingly. 



Although we have said that S. quinnat is the type of his con- 

 geners of the Pacific, it is important to know that the habits of the 

 many supposed varieties of salmon differ very greatly, especially as 

 to their periods of spawning, the times of running up into the rivers, 

 extending all through the year from first of April to first of January ; 

 January, February and March being the only months in which they 

 are either wholly out of the rivers, or in the act of descending to 

 salt water. Some spawn every year, and some (like the humpback) 

 only in alternate years. Speaking generally, without regard to dis- 

 tinction of varieties, we may quote from a private letter from Hor- 

 ace D. Dunn, of San Francisco, who is identified with the natural 

 history and culture of the salmon'. The writer says : 



" The first run of salmon is found in the mouths of the numerous 

 small rivers and creeks that flow into the Pacific Ocean from the 

 coast range of mountains from Carmel River, near Monterey, north 

 to the boundaries of Oregon. The grilse make their appearance 

 about the middle of October, followed in November by the adult 

 fish. These remain at tide water, waiting for the rise caused by 

 the heavy rains of December, which enables them to reach their 

 spawning be is at the heads of the streams. The coast salmon arc 

 said to be a distinct variety from those spawning in the Sacramento 

 River and its tributaries, and return to the ocean in March and 



